Harrison Hubard

Harrison Hubard NORFOLK - Harrison Hubard, 91, died Oct. 28, 2008, in Sentara Bayside Hospital in Virginia Beach. He lived with his wife Mary at Brighton Gardens in Virginia Beach. Harrison enjoyed a full spiritual and physical life and cared deeply about his family and friends and the needs of others who were less fortunate than him. Born in Bon Air, Va., April 9, 1917, Hubard was educated at the McGuire's School in Richmond and Virginia Military Institute. While at VMI, Hubard participated in cross country and horseback riding. He received the French Medal for the highest grade point average in pure mathematics at his graduation with the Class of 1938. Hubard was commissioned in the United States Army and served in World War II rising from second lieutenant to lieutenant colonel. As one of the first air to ground support officers, he arranged air strikes for the Allied Forces during the campaign in Italy. He returned to Richmond and the Virginia Electric and Power Company as an electrical engineer. In 1981, Hubard retired as vice president of the Eastern Division, the largest division within VEPCO after 42 years in his distinguished career. Hubard served on the vestries of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Norfolk and St. Stephen's Church in Richmond. Hubard headed the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce and served on many boards which included First and Merchants Bank of Tidewater, now Bank of America, Sentara Hospitals and the Old Dominion University Research Foundation. He was also on the Board of the Hampton Institute, now Hampton University, and Virginia Wesleyan College where he served on the President's Advisory Council. Hubard was a member of the Virginia Society of Professional Engineers and a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He served in the capacity of licensing professional engineers. His hobbies included his involvement with the Virginia Camellia Society, raising bird dogs and bird hunting, fishing, sailing, golfing and travelling and was a member of an investment club. Hubard was a past commodore of the Fishing Bay Yacht Club and formerly a member of the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club and Princess Anne Country Club. Hubard's proudest accomplishment occurred Sept. 7, 1940, when he married Mary Knox Hubard in Richmond. Mary and Harrison celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary this year. Hubard is survived by his wife Mary; his daughter, Molly Hubard Parsons of Norfolk and her husband Tim; his sons, Harrison Hubard Jr. of Richmond and his wife Kenzie and Conway Knox Hubard also of Richmond and his wife Shirley; his six grandchildren, Thomas and Ben Bilisoly of Norfolk, Carter and Harrison Hubard of Wilmington and Charlotte, N.C., and Knox and Macon Hubard of Richmond. Harrison devoted his final years of his life to the care of Mary. He also enjoyed the company of his family and friends, reading, bird watching and working on his computer. A memorial service will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Norfolk Monday at 11 a.m. Interment will be held in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond Tuesday at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Harrison Hubard Class of '38 Electrical Engineering Scholarship at VMI in Lexington, Va. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Norfolk Chapel, is handling arrangements.